American Football

Saturday would have been a huge football (American) day for me, but since I no longer have any favorites to cheer for, it's kind of dull.  I grew up supporting the Florida Gators, and I graduated from there, and I love the Gators - but since Tim Tebow graduated, none of the coaches nor individual players have been able to arouse my football competitiveness.  I guess that Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Errict Rhett, and Tim Tebow spoiled me...  Yesterday the Gators played their arch-rivals, the Florida State Seminoles, and I was bored.  First, I was upset, as always, by the 'Noles' use of "Chief Osceola" on an Appaloosa horse as their school character. I also knew that the Gators were on their way to Atlanta, to vie for the SEC Championship.  And, I don't think the Gators are that good this year...  Their play is extremely uneven, and while the defense is good to great, the offense stinks.  So I wasn't very surprised when the Seminoles won the game.
   The Colorado Buffaloes, on the other hand, have been this year's surprise team, and by defeating the Utah Utes, here in Boulder, last night, they won the Pac-12 South Championship, for the first time since they joined this conference.  But, again, even though I live here, I feel no connection to either the coaches, or any of the players.  It's a weird feeling for me - I've followed college football for 45 years, and now I just don't care.
    And it's the same for our professional football teams this year - there is no one player, or any coach, that really interests me.  There are a lot of players that I completely dislike - mainly those that have gotten away with rape (by paying off the women involved), and there are two players that are quarterbacks that I simply dislike, period - for any and/or all reasons - they just "rub me the wrong way."  So after 45 years of Friday night through Monday night football games, I find myself adrift - nothing to watch or talk about - other than my obsessions with genealogy, history, and horses....  Oh, well.  I guess that's enough to keep me busy and out of trouble...

Football (Madness?)

I have to admit that a lot of the college football teams surprised me yesterday….  and the CU Buffaloes were one of them.   I was proud to watch both the offense and the defense yesterday, and they made Boulder proud.   I wish that the Virginia Cavaliers had been able to defeat Notre Dame - that would have made me ecstatic for the whole week.  As it happened, ND lost their starting quarterback for the rest of the season - but I do wish Virginia had been able to best the other team.  The East Carolina Pirates could have beaten the Florida Gators, but didn't - which made all my friends in Florida and Jim McIlwyne very happy.  The Gators should have played better, but they didn't.  What happened?   The Kentucky Wildcats were hugely delighted by their defeat of the South Carolina Gamecocks, and they used every second they had possession of the ball to their advantage.  The last few minutes of the game were ugly to behold.  The Kentucky players and coaches were gloating on the sidelines as they ran the clock out, just taking a knee on the off chance that the Gamecocks might get the ball back and score.  I'm sure that's called "gamesmanship" and I do realize that using the field clock to one's advantage is to be encouraged.  But it just seemed to me that the UK team was afraid to play normally because they felt that the Old Head Ball Coach's voodoo would allow the Gamecocks to grab the ball, score, and win the game.  (Or is that just sour grapes speaking?)
  The Broncos will kick off at 2:25 (MDT) this afternoon, and I'll be watching intently.  I didn't really watch any of the pre-season Bronco games, as I was watching the Philadelphia Eagles in hope that Tim Tebow would make some brilliant plays and be placed on their roster.  The other reason that I didn't watch the preseason games is because the announcers tend to get caught up in themselves, and speak passionately about what they care about, and don't give any useful information regarding new players.  A few years ago, I remember watching a Broncos preseason game, and the two announcers spent the entire game talking about the Patriots and the Steelers, neither of whom were on the field.  I think that during preseason professional football games, the announcers should talk about the players on the teams that are on the field, period.
   And I've made no bones about the fact that I dislike several quarterbacks - Ben Roethlisberger, Jameis Winston, Phillip Rivers, and Tom Brady.  One of my bus drivers has a new filk song - sung to the tune of the theme from "The Brady Bunch:"  - There's a story, about a man named Brady, who deflates every single football he can find…."  For some reason that just sticks in my brain.  I dislike the first two on the list because they are rapists, pure and simple.  Phillip Rivers is a nasty bully - I sure as heck wouldn't want him to be a role model for my child - and Colin Kaepernick has turned out in the same mold.  What happened to the nice young man who graduated from college?  Has money and fan adulation turned him into such a monster so quickly?  It's just sad….
    I prefer Peyton and Eli Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rogers  (and Tim Tebow) to any other quarterback currently in the league.

Goodbye, Bear.... and Football

I hate to report this, but the young black bear that I met pretty much face-to-face last Friday is dead.  She kept hanging around the neighborhood and several families to the west of our subdivision were frightened by her.  The Department of Wildlife came out and shot her with a tranquilizer dart - but she reacted energetically and broke through the circle of observers.  They lost track of her.  Thirty minutes later, she was found, dead, in a drainage ditch.  The tranquilizer had kicked in and she had gone to sleep - in the bottom of a drainage ditch with four inches of water in it.  She went to sleep, her head fell under the water, and she drowned.  The necropsy showed that she was about two years old, weighed 115 pounds, and had not yet had any cubs.  At least her accidental death did not mean the starvation of cubs, also.  It just goes to show that sometimes, even with good intentions, bad things can happen.  If the tranquilization and capture had gone as planned, she would have been released in the middle of a National Forest, with no human habitations within 10 miles of her.  It's sad.

Once I finish my blog entries for today, I am going to open all my move-in boxes and find my dUSB cord for my camera.  I still haven't looked at the photos I took while in Virginia and Maryland.  I've been busy, but not that busy, and I'm kind of disgusted with myself for letting it go for so long.  

   At least my college football season got off to a good start yesterday.  Even though it wasn't a "pretty" win, the South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels, to get me and Coach Spurrier on a winning streak.  Following that game, both the Broncos and the Eagles lost their final pre-season games.  It looks as if I'll be following two pro teams this year - the local Denver Broncos, and, since it looks like Tim Tebow will be on the Eagles' roster, I'll have to tune in for their games, as well.  And, today, the Eagles traded the other quarterback that was battling with Tebow for a spot on the team.  I very rarely positively like a professional quarterback - but I'm all for both Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning.

Friday's Adventure

We received more than an inch of snow Friday morning before dawn, and the temperatures never rose above freezing.  I wouldn't have minded any of that, except that I traveled down to the Denver Airport with a family in their car.  I was assured they would leave in plenty of time to make their check-in and boarding.  I was told they'd pick me up at 7:30, and once they had debarked at the airport, I could drive peacefully back to Boulder.  They arrived in my parking lot at 8:15, and the roads were covered with slush, which was coating the windows and windshield, as well as the rear window.  The morning soon turned into an adventure - first, while the owner was driving, and we were only 10 miles out from Boulder (it's 75 miles from the house to DIA), we ran out of windshield washer fluid.  It was decided, since they were running so late, that we'd just dash water (from the personal water bottles everyone was carrying) onto the windshield and use the wipers to clear a vision spot.   Let me tell you that I found the experience frightening - firstly, the driver decided to try this operation at 85 mph on the toll road, and, secondly, we couldn't see anything behind us because the rear window was completely coated with mud, salt, and slush.  The first try blew the water onto the roof, missing the windshield entirely, due to our velocity.  So we began stopping in the emergency lane every  5 or 6 minutes to splash water on the windshield - but (I was praying at every stop) we couldn't see if anything was behind us when we started to stop, or how close the vehicle was, because of the totally occluded rear window.  So the driver started chiding the son for returning the vehicle without it being filled with gas and washer fluid.  The son reminded the driver that the daughter had taken this particular vehicle out, not he....  It was an interesting drive....  We somehow managed to cover the 75 miles in 55 minutes.
   Then I got to drive back to the closest service station and convenience store to purchase washer fluid and fill the reservoir that is used for both front and rear windows.  The vehicle took in 1.5 gallons of washer fluid.  I then washed all the windows with the provided window washer and scraper.  On the way home, I decided that I did not want to be driving in that bumper-to-bumper Interstate traffic all the way from DIA back to Boulder.  (Dumb idea.)  I took Tower Road to 96th Avenue - and then waited for 90 minutes with a train blocking the road.  I finally pulled out of line, and decided I'd see the "back side" of Commerce City.  I had no map, so I was just zig-zagging west and north, in hopes of finding a road that I knew.  I found three dead-ends, but finally saw a sign that pointed to one of the main roads (there are only three) back to Boulder.  It was quite an educational drive, and I actually rather enjoyed the adventure...
  Yesterday and today are gray and yucky.  Originally, the weather folks said we'd be cloudy, but there would be no precipitation during the Broncos game.   Now it looks like we'll have rain, possibly sleet, and possibly snow during the second half.  At least I'll be snug inside and watch the televised game from the recliner!  -  And I had really wanted the Ravens to beat the Patriots yesterday, but it just didn't happen.  So sorry, Baltimore!

Football - College and Pro

Wow.  The SEC Network kicked off the season with live coverage of the South Carolina Gamecocks hosting Texas A & M; and with a pre-game, half-time, and post-game analysis that included new sportscaster Timmy Tebow.  The Gamecocks were ranked 9th in the nation in pre-season polls, and, under Head Coach Steve Spurrier (whom I have loved for 50 years), it seemed about right.  Texas A & M, having lost Johnny Football at quarterback, was ranked 21st.  I watched to the bitter end....  Texas A & M beat the Gamecocks 52 to 28.  The South Carolina defense had no counter for the Aggie's offense.  Dylan Thompson, the 5th year SC quarterback, was a steadying influence for the Gamecocks, but Texas ran over the home team.  The quiet in the stadium was very strange.  And SC has a hard schedule coming up, too.  I hope the Ol' Ball Coach can regroup and win the rest of his games this season!
  The Broncos won their last pre-season game last night, without putting many starters on the field. The Dallas Cowboys fell 27 to 3 at home.  With Matt Prater out for the first four games, the Bronco tried out McManus  - he managed to make 2 of 4 field goals from beyond 50 yards.  Broncos fans are used to Matt making everything under 63 yards...
  And I had to laugh.  How does the NFL decide the amount that they fine someone?  Last week, Peyton Manning got up in D J Swearinger's face and "taunted" him, after Swearinger had tackled Wes Welker and given him a third concussion.  I imagine that Peyton said a few choice, nasty words, but neither he nor Swearinger repeated what was said.  The reason I had to laugh yesterday, was seeing that the NFL had fined Peyton  $8,428 for his "taunting" (or, dressing down) of Swearinger.  I don't think that amount will hurt Peyton's wallet too much, and it was probably a great relief to give Swearinger a vocal piece of his mind.
  The other NFL announcement made me cheer and pump my fists.  The league is finally shutting down on players (and, I hope, coaches) who abuse their spouses.  Ray Rice of the Ravens was given a two-game suspension after punching his then fiance (now wife) in the face.   Now, any player who is found guilty of domestic abuse will be suspended for 6 weeks and six games without pay for the first offense; a second offense will result in a lifetime ban from the NFL.  Finally, some protection for the spouses!

AFC Championship Game Today

The AFC and NFC Championship games will be played today.  Most people here in Colorado are focused entirely on the Denver Broncos game against the New England Patriots.  I like and support the Broncos - there is not a single team member that I do not like.  I greatly dislike "pretty boy" Tom Brady, the quarterback of the Patriots team. And, I'm also quietly happy that Brandon Spikes will not be playing for the Patriots defense today.  I'm sorry that Brandon is injured, but - he's a Gator, so I have to favor him when he's playing.  KUSA, our NBC affiliate, has yet to hand out "United in Orange" clingy-thingys here in Boulder, even though they did hand them out in Fort Collins and Dillon yesterday...  Maybe if we win today, and the Broncos head for the Super Bowl, then they'll hand out "United in Orange" stickers here...  Everyone I know wants one.

There were not any clouds in view this morning, so we didn't have an orange and blue sunrise.  The skies are a bight blue, and it's already 50 degrees outside.  We currently have 28 percent humidity, and a light breeze is blowing at 6 mph.  Kick off time is 1:05 (MDT) today, and there is a possibility that it might be 60 degrees, or so, on the field.  High winds are not in the forecast.  And, one thing to keep in mind, is that our normal high temperature for this time of year is 42, not 60.  

  There are hopes that Champ Bailey will be on the field for every defensive play today, but the defense will be missing Chris Harris, Jr, who was the unheralded King of the Backfield for us.  But it seems that all of the usual receivers will be there and in fine fettle - so, here's hoping for a fantastic win at 5,280 feet above sea level!

   GO BRONCOS!

Snow (Finally) ... And Tim Tebow

I hadn't planned on going out at all today - but when I got up and saw less than an inch of snow on the ground, I went on ahead and walked over to the bakery for a fresh, warm blueberry whole wheat bagel. It's 18 degrees outside; the humidity is at 86%. Earlier, when I first went out, the snow was falling as very fine powder - you couldn't see individual flakes, but the wind blew them behind my glasses, so I could feel them. Snow is now falling in large flakes, so that I can sit at my desk and see it coming down at a 45-degree slant from the north. At the beginning of the late news cast last night, reporters said the streets in Boulder were wet, and that would cause ice under the snow this morning... I went out and looked, and my patio and Folsom Street and the front parking lot were as dry as a desert bone. I awoke around 3:30, and the edge of my patio was beginning to look damp. At 6, as I wrote before, there was less than an inch on the ground. There are about two inches out there right now, and the fall has intensified. Yeah!!! We're finally getting real snow! The ski resorts have gotten more than 12 inches of white stuff since yesterday afternoon...
  Lovey and Nedi have both been outside; Lovey has wandered out twice, but Nedi played in the falling snow, and came back inside with a wet coat. I already had a towel waiting for him, and was able to give him a quick wrap and dry. Lovey is curled up on top of my snow hat and scarf, while Nedi is curled up in the cat tree, looking at the falling snow. I've placed a pile of pecans in one chair and a pile of peanuts in the other, just in case any of the squirrels decide to forage this morning. The patio door is not open. As soon as I finish this, I'll start up the Crock Pot and let the beans, ham, pepper and spices simmer all day.
  As a fan of Tim Tebow, both as a football player and as a human being, I am frustrated with his position with the New York Jets. Tebow was on the Injured Reserve list with broken ribs the weekend that Sanchez was benched and McElroy was named as the starter. After Monday night's game, which the Jets lost, 10 - 14, and after Sanchez had committed his 50th lost fumble, Coach Ryan decided yesterday to bench Sanchez again. The player listed as the number two quarterback on the depth list is Tim Tebow. Whom did Ryan name as the starter? McElroy. What a tremendous slap in the face! When Tebow was "up for grabs" after John Elway signed Peyton Manning last spring, the Jacksonville Jaguars wanted to hire him. Or, should I say, the Jags owner really wanted to sign Tebow, but the coaching staff was luke-warm to the idea. The Jets and Coach Ryan, however, seemed to want Tebow to come and play and be a contributing member of the team. Tebow decided that the Jets would be the best pick. After that awful expose in the Jets' locker room, where teammates called Tebow "terrible", but wouldn't allow their names to be used, I was ticked off. I have watched each and every Jets game this season, just in the hopes of seeing Tebow play. This past Monday night, he was sent on field in the quarterback position twice - he threw an incomplete pass, and was sacked the second time for a two-yard loss. That's all he was allowed to play... I do realize that professional football is a business. I realize that just because a player gets a contract, it doesn't mean that he is automatically a starter. But you need to allow your players to prove themselves before you just write them off. Coach Ryan's decision stinks.

Shame on the NY Jets Locker Room!

I'm a fan of Tim Tebow. I have liked and respected the young man since he first came to my attention when he began to play for the Gators at the University of Florida. I like his work ethic and I like his honesty. I am a little uneasy with his extremely open Christian worship, but he is the son of a missionary, and he does not try to convert one to his viewpoints overtly. He states his beliefs and that's that. A lot of the success of the Gators football team, during Tebow's years, was accorded to him. He has a great sense of team work; has always encouraged and led others to do their best. In all of my reading about him, he has seemed to be motivated by being told he can't do something - and that something was to play the quarterback position on a high school team, on a rated college team, and as a professional football player. Coaches have complained about his throwing mechanics, and he has worked hard on "getting the kinks out of his throwing technique" for years. The coaches have had no need to say a word about his camaraderie, his team spirit, his work ethic, or his drive to succeed.

  From what I understand, he has never done extremely well in team practices - his throws are off, with a tendency to be under- or over-thrown. But once it's a game day, he has always performed at his best. He has always given his best, tried hard to win, and was not ashamed to cry in public when he lost. He has no hidden agenda. He wants to be a good man, a good Christian, and a good football player. Since he has a contract with a professional football team, and has conducted himself with grace and discretion in interviews, I feel that he has succeeded so far. He stepped into a void with the Denver Broncos, and was able to take the team to the AFL Divisional playoffs during the second half of a season. Broncos fans were feeling pretty happy with Tim Tebow as the quarterback. John Elway said that Tebow was the Broncos' quarterback. - Then Peyton Manning became available and Tebow was tossed about like a hot potato. It was a sad and upsetting experience as a fan, and one can only imagine how Tebow felt.

  I was amazed when I read the ESPN and Sports Illustrated web sites today and saw the swipes that were being taken at Tebow by team mates who wanted to remain anonymous. The first phrase to cross my mind was: "Man up!" If one is going to state to the world-wide press that one thinks another player, a team mate, is "terrible" then that one person should allow his name to be used in the quote. That is just plain bad sportsmanship. If I felt that strongly about a team mate, I would allow my name to be used. Rex Ryan, the head coach of the New York Jets, wanted Tebow to use in his Wildcat formation, and any other way he could use him. Tim Tebow has played on the punt return team; he has blocked for ground plays and passes, lining up as a tail back and a wide receiver; he occasionally gets to play the quarterback position. This past Sunday, he completed 3 of 3 passes for positive yards, he handed off the ball for positive yards, and he carried the ball for positive yards. He was usually called in on third down plays, and he converted on each one. Why are the team mates complaining?

  Perhaps because Tim Tebow is one of those polarizing characters that occasionally pop up throughout history - or, recent football history. Steve Spurrier, who also won the Heisman Trophy as a Florida Gator, was and is another such polarizing person. You either love him, or you hate him, period. I have always loved Steve Spurrier, and his zingers against other teams and coaches. I will always like Tim Tebow, unless he suddenly turns into a woman beating, child eating, cold blooded killer. (Somehow, I don't think that will happen.) Because fans like Tim Tebow, and because he has not been allowed to play more than two plays in a row for the Jets, the fans are getting restless. Mark Sanchez, the Jets starting quarterback, has the lowest rating of any quarterback at this time. During last weeks game, Sanchez threw an interception and fumbled and lost the ball - both times the opponents were able to score. The Jets have lost 6 of their 9 games so far this season. Rex Ryan states that Mark Sanchez is the starting quarterback, period. Rex Ryan is the boss, and Tim Tebow is a good soldier.

  What I'm trying to say is that I certainly feel for Tebow. The press in New York likes to stir things up and create drama - it sells their papers. I hope that as Tebow has grown and matured, he has developed the outer skin of a true alligator, like the mascot of his college team. When I read those reports today, I cringed and my stomach churned. I am very disappointed in the "team mates" in the Jets locker room. I thought that once a person was a professionally paid athlete, they were to respect team owners, management, and team mates. Actually, reading that little "expose" made me very angry - and I don't like feeling angry. Since Tim Tebow is willing to work hard, and do whatever the coaches instruct him to do, keep a smile on his face, work as a team member, and be a positive person with the press, shouldn't he receive even a modicum of respect?

  Shame on the New York Jets locker room! Iwill continue to watch the Jets games, but only so I can root for a hard-working young man who is trying his best to live his dream.